In some cases surgery is required for the repair of an abdominal aneurysm. In this condition the aorta, or large vessel leaving the heart has a weakened area, or aneurysm. An aneurysm can happen anywhere, but sometimes happens along the aorta as it lies in the abdomen. During a surgical repair of this condition, an incision is made into the patient’s abdomen and the bulging section of the abdominal aorta is replaced with a synthetic graft. This synthetic graft is stronger than the diseased section of the aorta and better able to tolerate the pressure of blood flow. General anesthesia is used for this surgery and the patient will remain in the hospital for several days. The patient and surgeon will discuss the surgery and its risks before the decision is made to go ahead with surgical repair. The surgeon will need to see the patient in follow-up several weeks after surgery.
|